The pharmacokinetic properties were investigated of teicoplanin, including its penetration into suction blister fluid (SBF), after a single intravenous bolus administration of 600 mg in seven pneumological patients with normal renal and hepatic function. Blood and SBF samples were collected during the 60-hour period drug administration. Teicoplanin was assayed microbiologically and the mean serum concentration at the end of the i.v. injection was 98.7 +/- 16 mg/l falling to 2.3 +/- 0.4 mg/l at 60 h. The antibiotic was rapidly distributed into a fast equilibrating peripheral compartment and, at a lower rate, into a slowly equilibrating peripheral compartment, while the mean elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) was 34.1 +/- 6.8 h. Penetration into the SBF, though slow, was good, reaching a mean peak level of 8.7 +/- 1.7 mg/l at a mean time of 2.1 h, with a penetration index (obtained by percentage ratio of the area under curve in the SBF to that of serum) of 42.9%.